Azerbaijan suspends flights to 3 Russian cities
Following a plane crash in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Airlines has suspended flights to several Russian cities. The crash is being investigated for suspected external technical interference.
12punto
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has decided to suspend flights to the Russian cities of Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod, and Vladikavkaz following a plane crash that occurred near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25.
According to a statement from AZAL, flights to these cities have been suspended until the final investigation is completed, citing preliminary investigation findings that the crash was caused by physical and technical external interference, as well as flight safety concerns.
FLIGHTS TO 7 OTHER CITIES HAD ALREADY BEEN SUSPENDED
It was announced yesterday that flights to Mineralnye Vody, Sochi, Volgograd, Ufa, Samara, Grozny, and Makhachkala had also been canceled due to similar security concerns.
CRASH DETAILS EMERGE
The Embraer 190 aircraft belonging to AZAL, which was flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the city of Aktau, resulting in the deaths of 38 people, while 29 people survived.
While AZAL announced that the plane crashed as a result of physical and technical external interference, Azerbaijani officials confirmed allegations that the Russian "Pantsir-S" air defense system had targeted the aircraft.